Shoe



Oct. 13, 1942.

W. EBLING SHOE Filed March 28, 1942 INVENTOR way I 127? A ORNEYS Patented Oct. 13, 1942 iJNlTED STATESTENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to shoes.

More particularly stated, the invention relates to shoes so constructed as to provide ventilation for the feet of the wearer. Various means have been utilized for providing ventilation, such for instance, as to punch holes through the material forming the vamp or body of the shoe.

Moreover, the waste incurred in shoe manufacture is very considerable since when an upper is cut out from a skin, the shape of the upper precludes cutting out more than a small number from one skin. This leaves a material part of the skin as unusable waste.

This invention has for one of its objects to provide a shoe of the character described so constructed that ample ventilation will be provided with the addition of maximum comfort to the wearer. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe constructed of material so formed that lower grades and lighter weights of leather or other material may be utilized and there will be a minimum amount of waste in cutting up the skins when leather is used.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe material so constructed that it will lend itself to a large variety of designs by Varying color combinations and combinations of different materials.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe material for use in forming the vamp, inserts, panels or the body of the shoe, so constructed and arranged that no separate lining for the shoes will be required.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following specification taken in connection with the drawing which forms a part of this application, and in which- Fig. l is a perspective elevation of a shoe having incorporated therein material constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the material used in an insert or panel;

Fig. 3 is a plan view illustrating the manner in which the strips of material which are secured together to form the blank or sheet are formed;

Fig. 4. is a transverse sectional elevation of the material shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the blank of material constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the reverse side of the material shown in Fig. 5;

terial constructed in a manner embodying the invention, but slightly different from that shown in Figs. 3-6 inclusive;

Fig. 8' is a plan view of the blank of the insert shown in Fig. 7 prior to the stitching of the strips of material; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on line 99 of Fig. 8.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1-6 inclusive, the material is formed of a plurality of strips I0 disposed side by side in abut- I3 is folded longitudinally, the folded ends being folded into parallel relation with the main body portion I4 of the strip. The folded ends I5 and I 6 are glued, cemented or otherwise secured to the remaining portion I4. Thus, these strips take the form of flat tubes. This tubular construction or double thickness of material gives the necessary firmness or strength required for shoe material and also obviates the necessity for a lining. Although, as stated, the tubular material of double thickness has certain advantages, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to this particular form of strip but that the strips may be of single thickness and may be formed in any other desired manner.

The strips I0 are then arranged side by side in parallel relation and are held in this position in any suitable manner and are thereafter stitched together or in side by side relation by the stitching I I. If desired, and for ornamental purposes, a strip ll of braid or leather may be secured to the outer surface of the material by the stitching I I.

It will be obvious that in making up the design the strips Ill may be varied in color or width or these strips may be formed of different materials. Furthermore, the material from which the strips are made may be leather or any desired fabric, such for instance, as gabardine.

After the sheet or blank has been made up in the manner specified, it is cut to the desired shape and may be used as shown in Fig. 1 to form the vamp 20 of a shoe. Moreover, the material may be arranged in any desired manner as, for instance, with the strips and stitching diagonally arranged as shown in Fig. 1, or vertically arranged. It should be understood that although the drawing illustrates a woman's shoe, the invention is equally applicable to mens or Fig, 7 is a lan view of an insert formed of machildrens shoes.

The blank also may be cut to form an insert such as shown at 2| in Fig. 2.

Figs. 7-9 inclusive, illustrate another embodiment of the invention. In this form two sheets 25 and 26 of the desired materials are cemented or laminated together and thereafter slits 21 are cut, these slits preferably terminating within the outer edge of the blank to form marginal unslit portions. After the laminated sheets have thus been slit, the slits are secured in parallel relation by means of transverse stitching 28. The sheets 25 and 26 are preferably secured together with the finished surfaces disposed outwardly so that the material may be used without requiring the use of a separate lining material.

It will be noted also that the material shown in Figs. 1-6 inclusive, is finished on both sides since the unfinished portions are turned inwardly and are disposed within the flat. tubular strips II]. This provides a smooth inner surface.

In both forms of the invention illustrated the material or blanks formed in the manner described, when used in a shoe provide a ventilated material since the parallel openings 30 between the parallel strips permit the air to pass through the portions so formed.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that a simple, practical and economical shoe material has been provided and that shoes having panels, inserts or Vamps constructed of such material will be attractive in appearance, light in weight and will have the advantage of providing ample ventilation and comfort.

Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have been particularly shown and described, it will be understood that the invention,

is capable of modification and that changes in the construction and in the arrangement of the various cooperating parts may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, as expressed in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a shoe, a portion formed of a material of solid appearance, said portion comprising a plurality of strips arranged side by side in edge abutting relation, and stitching extending transversely of the strips in spaced rows and forming the sole means of retaining the strips in position for the creation of the solid appearance of the material.

2. In a shoe, a portion formed of a material of solid appearance, said portion comprising a plurality of strips arranged side by side in edge abutting relation, stitching extending transversely of the strips in spaced rows and forming the sole means of retaining the strips in position for the creation of the solid appearance of the material, and strips of ornamental braid secured by each row of stitching to the outer face of the material.

3. A shoe as set forth in claim 1, wherein the strips are folded longitudinally to form a double thickness of material with both faces presenting finished surfaces.. v

{1. A shoe designed for ventilating purposes during wear, said shoe including a ventilating zone formed of a material, which in planar form, presents a surface provided with a succession of spaced, parallel, elongated slits to present the material as of strip-like character with the slits extending through the material, the material of said ventilating zone comprising a plurality of strips arranged side by side in edge abutting relation, and stitching extending transversely of the strips in spaced rows and forming the sole means of retaining the strips in position.

5. A shoe designed for ventilating purposes during wear, said shoe including a ventilating zone formed of a material which, .in planar form, presents a surface provided with a succession of parallel elongated slits substantially equi-spaced to present the material as of strip-like character with the slits extending through the material, said strips being folded longitudinally to form a double thickness of material with both faces presenting finished surfaces.

WALTER EBLING. 

